Numerical Simulations of Galaxy Formation in a Lambda Cold Dark Matter Universe

MARIO G. ABADI

Isla de Margarita, Venezuela

Conferencia; XII Latin American IAU Regional Meeting; 2007

The success of the Λ Cold Dark Matter model in reproducing observational results from the large scale structure of the Universe has established it as the new paradigm for galaxy formation and evolution. Cosmological gravitational/hydrodynamical numerical simulations are an invaluable tool to study the origin and evolution of different galactic components in this cosmological framework. In the following we review the main ideas presently accepted regarding galaxy formation, and stress the importance of different complex astrophysical effects usually invoked during this process. We emphasise, as well, the fundamental role that satellite accretion events play in shaping the formation of galactic systems.